Hey, festive Mamas,

I haven’t gotten my decorations up yet, nor my tree. Haven’t sent out my Christmas cards. Haven’t done my Christmas shopping nor any of the baking I want to do. We were doing a light remodel of the kitchen last week and everything just caught up with me! It’s been one of those years, and I’m on the toddler-timing learning curve.

But I’m feeling contented and productive, and we’ll get the tree up this weekend; if we can laugh and hug and have a good time, I’ll call it all a success. I’m not going to let a Stanley Cup carrying-Instagram mom convince me otherwise!

There is joy in the surrender; there is joy in missing out. There is joy wherever we declare it to be.

A Featured Mama

This is a new section where I introduce something cool that a mother in our community is building. If you would like to be featured, please email me at [email protected].

If you want to try something new and playful for yourself and your kids, Gravity District is offering a FREE open playtime 10am-11am every Tues/Thurs in December.

Gravity District, an all-ages movement studio in Bastrop that specializes in aerial arts, acrobatics, and development; the studio is owned and operated by Stacey Braden: mother, entrepreneur and movement instructor. She is also a motorcycle instructor, holy wow 😮.

Gravity District is launching some cool new kid-focused programming in January including:

• Parents’ Day Out (unique because it is open to 8 months old up to pre-K. I don’t see that many programs that include children that young, so that is neat!) Leave the kids off and take a break!

• Mommy & Me (open to Dads and primary caregivers too!) is a structured 1-on-1 time for a parent and child 8 months to pre-K.

• Acrobatics and Aerial Arts classes for ages 2-9.

I’m really excited about these new offerings, and that we have something so unique here in our little county. I’m going to check out the studio at one of the free play dates and see how my little one likes it and I hope you will too.

Events in Bastrop County

All Weekend

Elf on the Shelf Scavenger Hunt in Downtown Elgin, Thurs-Sun. Prizes!

Dickens on Main in Downtown Smithville. Skating rink, decorations, actors and actresses in their full Dickens gear. Friday 5pm - Saturday 10:30pm. Free.

It’s a Wonderful Life - Live Radio Play runs multiple shows this weekend at the Bastrop Opera House. Tickets are $25/each.

Sunday

Holiday PopUp Market at Gravity District features food, crafts, face-painting, plus discounts for kids’ classes. Sunday 12:30pm.

Sunday Funday Outdoor Concert at Community Gardens features Winter Dawn. Free. Food, bar, and a bounce house open. Sunday 1-3pm.

Meet Santa at the Katy House in Smithville on Sunday 2-4pm. Cocoa and pictures.

Tuesday

Lego Club at the Bastrop Public Library. 3pm Free.

Wednesday

Cookie Decorating Party at Smithville Brewing. 6 pm.

Thanks for reading; this newsletter is a labor of love, created for mamas in the Bastrop community to stay in the loop. Will you support our work by sharing this newsletter to a mama you love.

Warmly,

Elise✨